Fastest CompactFlash on the block

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, which CompactFlash is fastest of all?

Well, according to VARIndia, it's the Transcend 300X 16GB CF, which can transfer information at more than 50MB per second. The publication reported that the card's speed was verified by independent tester Rob Galbraith, who maintains a CF/SD performance database for photographers at his Digital Photography Insights Web site.

Transcend executive Austin Huang told the trade periodical: "We are extremely proud of the fact that among the 130 memory cards tested, the new Transcend 300X 16GB has emerged as the world's first CF card to have broken through the 50MB/second barrier. With the impressive transfer speeds and enormous storage capacity of Transcend 300X CF cards, we are confident that photographers, both professional and amateur, and all other power users will appreciate the excellent performance offered by the product."

At Transcend's Internet shop, its 16GB 300X is selling for $205.99. The company also makes 300X CF cards in smaller sizes. A 4GB card sells for $64.70 and an 8GB card for $120.